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Media Studies

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Media Studies complements a variety of subjects and potential progression routes. As well as gaining an informed understanding of Media texts and their contexts, students will also develop practical skills using the edit suite. Case studies explored on the course include Beyonce's Formation video, Black Panther, Vogue magazine and Assassins Creed III. You will study and be assessed on the following three components, over a two-year period:

Component 1: Media Products, Industries And Audiences (30% of qualification)

This exam consists of two sections: Section A: Analysing Media Language and Representation, Section B: Understanding Media Industries and Audiences.

Component 2: Media Forms & Products (40% of qualification)

This exam consists of three sections: Section A: Television in the Global Age, Section B: Magazines, Mainstream and Alternative Media, Section C: Media in the Online Age. Both exams assess media language, representation, media industries, audiences and media contexts.

Component 3: Production Coursework (30% of qualification)

Students will create two media products from the following media forms: television, magazine and marketing for film and music. Students will apply their knowledge and understanding of how texts are constructed for specific meaning and audiences.

Media is such an important and influential part of our society and therefore it is important to understand how it works. I am pleased that I tried something new. I liked the specific movies and music videos we studied, such as 'Formation' and 'Riptide' to get a deeper understanding of its meaning and intention. I also got to learn more about feminism, gender representation and stereotypes.

Alice Sommer, German exchange student

Course Essentials

Courses Available
A Level
Entry Requirements
How The Course is Assessed
70% exam and 30% coursework
Career Pathways
Students progress to a variety of degree courses and a range of HE institutions for both single and joint honours. Productions created on this course using industry standard software can be added to a show reel which can be used when applying for Media Production courses and apprenticeships.
Transferable Skills
Communication, interpretation, teamwork, project management, technical skills.
Other Information
There are practical workshops throughout the year on camera use, editing and digital design. All software used on this course is made available for you to work on at home. There are guest speakers leading sessions on media careers e.g. Frank Hopkins (BBC). Future plans include trips to The Depot for Study Days based on the set texts and industry context included in the exam.
Enquiries To
David Allan: daa@varndean.ac.uk